Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy: Meters

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe effect of using prepayment meters on users of such meters in (1) managing their finances, (2) meeting the increased cost of living, and (3) other challenges.

Lord Callanan: No assessment has been made. The Government recognises that rising energy prices can make it more difficult for consumers with prepayment meters to buy the energy they need. Therefore, the Government has provided a £37 billion package of cost-of-living support to help households and businesses this winter, including a £15 billion targeted package of direct support for the most vulnerable households. A further funding package worth £26 billion will provide support to the most vulnerable households in 2023/24.

Royal Mail: Stamps

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Royal Mail Stamp Swap Out scheme; andwhat assessment they have made of the cost of that scheme so far.

Lord Callanan: The development of stamp products is an operational matter for Royal Mail. The Government is not involved in the operational or commercial decisions of Royal Mail, a private business.

Energy: Meters

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact of the severe cold weather on vulnerable households, and (2) the ability of those residents on pre-payment meters to pay their energy bills.

Lord Callanan: Suppliers are required to offer vulnerable households with prepayment meters short-term support through emergency and friendly-hours credit and additional support credit if needed. The Government has put in place support worth over £37bn to assist consumers, including those with prepayment meters, with recent rises in the cost of living. The household support fund, assisting those most in need, has also been extended to March of this year. Support for eligible households is also available through the Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.

Attorney General

Terrorism: Compensation

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have paid compensation to (1) individuals who were perpetrators of terrorist activities, and (2) family members of those who were perpetrators of terrorist activities, in the last five years for which figures are available; and if so, (a) how much compensation they have paid in each category, and (b) how many such claims have been lodged seeking settlement.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton: The Government Legal Department is presently acting on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in seven claims that have been filed in the courts of England and Wales in the last five years, by individuals involved in or accused of terrorist activities seeking compensation. His Majesty’s Government have reached settlement in relation to cases in the Courts of England and Wales with perpetrators of terrorist activities, and family members of such individuals, within the last five years – but the terms of those settlements are subject to strict confidentiality agreements about both the terms of settlement and the amount of compensation paid, if any.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Lord Robathan: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whatis the cost of the traffic controllers stationed on the road between Black Rod's Entrance and New Palace Yard during the current building works; how long will those staff be employed; and what evidence there is for the need for those controllers, illustrated by (1) vehicle, or (2) pedestrian, casualties over the last 10 years.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There are four traffic marshals stationed on the road between Black Rod’s Garden and New Palace Yard (also called the ‘spine road’); there is one marshal in Royal Court, two along the road itself, and one in Speaker’s Court.Other marshals are located elsewhere -one at Carriage Gates, one outside Westminster Hall, one on the Corus Lane/Peers’ Car Park and one in Black Rod’s Garden. There is also one marshal supervisor and two relief marshals to provide shift and break cover. This makes 11 marshals. The total cost for all marshals per week is £12,588.Marshals will be in place while construction work is underway as part of the New Palace Yard Security Project. The intention is to reduce the number of marshals on the spine road, and elsewhere in the Palace, once users become more confident with the new arrangement. Strategic Estates are tracking and reviewing the system daily. Any remaining marshals may be deployed where our current monitoring of the one-way system identifies the most need.The need for traffic marshals is not a consequence of vehicle or pedestrian causalities but is based on risk assessments, traffic modelling carried out prior to the operation of the one-way system, stakeholder requests, and construction industry best practice. On construction sites pedestrians and traffic are almost always segregated, but where this is not possible, such as on the Parliamentary Estate, additional mitigations are required.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Refugee Convention

Lord Coaker: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to withdraw from the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government does not have any plans to withdraw from the Refugee Convention.

Bangladesh: Foreign Relations

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of UK-Bangladesh relations.

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the UK aid, if any, given to Bangladesh over the last year.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1971, and we celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in February 2022. The breadth of the UK-Bangladesh partnership has matured over the last 50 years, and includes trade and investment, defence and security, people-to-people links and cooperation on Rohingya and climate. Bangladesh is a key trading partner, with UK-Bangladesh trade totalling $4.5 billion per year. Bangladesh is an economic and development success story, with an average of 6% GDP growth over the last two decades. In 2021, the UK provided £87.2 million of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Bangladesh, which contributed towards the Sustainable Development Goals including on humanitarian preparedness and response, women and girls, climate and governance. As Bangladesh works towards graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2026, the UK is proud to stand as a close partner, strengthening ties and building on our shared interests.

Bangladesh: Press Freedom

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of (1) press freedoms in Bangladesh, and (2) the extent to which British journalists may freely enter and leave that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the UK. As the FCDO's 2021 Human Rights and Democracy Report states, press freedom remains restricted in Bangladesh, and we continue to assess that Bangladesh's Digital Security Act has been applied in a repressive manner. Ministers regularly raise human rights issues in public and private with the Government of Bangladesh, including the importance of free media. UK funding has supported objective media coverage of conflict in communities, as well as the training and education of investigative and female journalists in Bangladesh. The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Bangladesh to address these issues, and will support efforts towards a stable, prosperous and democratic Bangladesh. British journalists are able to enter and leave Bangladesh, and the UK Government will raise any incidents of harassment or restrictions on movement with the Government.

Refugees: Syria

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) British Nationals, and (2) families containing a British National, in refugee camps in north-East Syria have asked to return to the UK; and how many such requests have been (a) accepted, and (b) refused.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are unable to comment on individual cases. We are aware that there are British nationals, including children, in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps in north east Syria. The FCDO advises against all travel to Syria and there is no consular support available from within Syria, therefore we cannot accurately account for the number of British nationals there.The UK Government will seek to facilitate the return of British unaccompanied minors and orphans to the UK where feasible, subject to national security concerns, nationality and identity checks and on a case-by-case basis.

Iran: Demonstrations

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the execution of anti-government protestors in Iran, and what discussions they have had with the government of Iranabout this matter.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. On 8 December and 9 January, the Foreign Secretary summoned Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK to protest Iran's continued use of the death penalty against protesters. This same message has been delivered repeatedly through our Ambassador in Tehran, and in London, including when Lord Ahmad spoke to the Chargé d' Affaires on 20 December. The UK remains committed to holding Iran to account for its repression of protesters. Since October, we have announced 50 new sanctions designations on individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran, including the Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri on 14 January, his deputy on 23 January, and other judiciary figures responsible for Iran's barbaric use of the death penalty for political ends.

Qatar: Human Rights

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of human rights in Qatar following the sentencing to life imprisonment of Qatari lawyers Hazza and Rashed bin Ali Abu Shurayda al-Marri on 10 May 2022; what representations have they made to the government of Qatar about this issue; and what steps they plan to take, if any, to curtail UK–Qatar co-operation in response.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the case of Hazza and Rashed bin Ali Abu Shurayda al-Marri. The UK urges all countries to comply with their international obligations including those on human rights. Our close relationship with the Government of Qatar allows us to discuss important issues including human rights. We consistently underline the importance of political freedoms globally. This includes respect for the rule of law. Where the UK has cause, we raise these issues at official and Ministerial level.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had with the government of Iran concerning their use of capital punishment; and in particular, the recent cases of Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. On 8 December and 9 January, the Foreign Secretary summoned Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK to protest Iran's continued use of the death penalty against protesters. This same message has been delivered repeatedly through our Ambassador in Tehran, and in London, including when I (Lord Ahmad) spoke to the Chargé d' Affaires on 20 December. The UK remains committed to holding Iran to account for its repression of protesters. Since October, we have announced 50 new sanctions designations on individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran, including the Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri on 14 January, his deputy on 23 January, and other judiciary figures responsible for Iran's barbaric use of the death penalty for political ends.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Defence for Children International (Palestine) Year-in-review: A deadly year for Palestinian children, published on 23 December 2022.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK continues to engage with the Israeli government on human rights issues in the context of the occupation, including the treatment of children. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have advocated for swift, transparent and thorough investigations and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account. We will continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. The UK remains committed to a two-state solution, as I made clear during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 10-13 January.

Ukraine: Food

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how well the agreed arrangements for the export of food from Ukraine are working; and what (1) steps, if any, they are taking, and (2) discussions with partner countries they are having, to address any issues.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Continued Russian bombing ruins crops and damages transport routes, hindering Ukrainian grain from getting onto world food markets. Despite this, grain exports continue through Ukrainian defiance and international support. The Black Sea Grain Initiative has been a success with over 18 million tonnes of grain exported from Ukrainian ports since August. The UK works closely with the UN and like-minded partners to ensure the continued success and stability of the initiative. We call on all parties to cooperate to ensure that the potential of the initiative is maximised. We have also provided £10 million for equipment to move grain by rail to neighbouring countries.

Gaza: Medical Equipment

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Israeli authorities refused permission for medical equipment to enter the Gaza Strip; and what representations, if any, they have made to the government of Israel about the matter.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We urge access into and out of Gaza, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, for humanitarian actors, reconstruction materials and those, including Palestinians, travelling for medical purposes. We are in close contact with UN agencies and key partners on the ground to assess the situation and will monitor closely. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate-General in Jerusalem frequently urge the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to take steps to improve conditions in Gaza, including easing movement and access restrictions. The wounded and ill in Gaza and the West Bank should be able to access the urgent medical care they need.

Jerusalem: Religious Buildings

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Jordan to ensure safe visits by Jews to the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif).

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK values and supports Jordanian Custodianship of Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem. We engage with the Jordanian Waqf in Jerusalem frequently about access and movement to the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount. The UK continues to be supportive of the Status Quo arrangements which enable all three Abrahamic faiths to worship in the Old City of Jerusalem. I reiterated this position during my recent visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the formation of the new government of Israel on 29 December 2022, what assessment have they made of the compliance of the government of Israel with the Fourth Geneva convention of 1949 for those living within the Occupied Territories.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister spoke to the new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to congratulate him on his election victory and are already working with the new government of Israel on the next chapter of UK-Israel relations. We continue to call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and we have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation of the Palestinian territories. I reinforced this message during my visit to Israel and the OPTs on 10-13 January.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding the killing of (1) Shireen Abu Akleh, (2) Jana Majdi Issam, (3) Adam Nasser Ayyad, (4) Dia Mohammad Rimawi, and (5) Fulla Maslama.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly raise the issue of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities. We encourage them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account. We will continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. The UK remains committed to a two-state solution, as I made clear during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 10-13 January.

Pakistan: Jews

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan, if any, about the (1) safety, and (2) well-being, of around two hundred Jews living in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Protecting religious minorities is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. We regularly raise the treatment of minority communities at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, on 14 December, I discussed freedom of religion or belief and the need to promote respect for all religions with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Oxfam InternationalFueling Conflict: Analyzing the human impact of the war in Yemen, published on 11 January.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of the impact of arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen, reportedly against civilians; and what consideration they are giving to seeking to end the sale of such arms to Saudi Arabia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have taken note of the Oxfam publication of 11 January. We urge all parties to the Yemen conflict to exercise restraint and avoid further civilian impact and suffering. The Government takes its strategic export control responsibilities very seriously. The Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, including respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.  All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

River Tees: Pyridine

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top: To ask His Majesty's Government who has been appointed to the expert panel established to investigate pyridine in the River Tees.

Lord Benyon: The expert panel announced in November has been convened and is made up of experts from outside government and its agencies, with representatives from over 10 leading marine science organisations. They will assess the evidence and consider all explanations for the mortality of crabs and lobsters that occurred in 2021, using all available data and informed by wider scientific research and expert opinions. The panel’s findings, and details of its membership and terms of reference, has now been published.Expert Panel Findings  (pdf, 2079.6KB)

Honey: Misrepresentation

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government which honey producers have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for misrepresenting the honey they have sold.

Lord Benyon: Local Authorities (LAs) are requested to submit details of prosecutions they have made to the Food Standards Agency. In the last five years the Government has not been made aware of any prosecutions of honey producers misrepresenting honey they have sold. Responsibility for assessing business compliance with the majority of food legislation rests with LAs. They will consider any areas of non-compliance with food law and take appropriate enforcement action in line with a hierarchy, risk-based approach to ensure the business takes the necessary steps to achieve compliance. Each situation will be judged on its own merits by the relevant LA to determine the proportionate course of action. The Honey (England) Regulations 2015 lay down strict rules that honey must comply with in terms of quality and compositional criteria. Regulation 19 applies, with modifications, section 10 of the Food Safety Act 1990 to enable Improvement Notices to be served on a Food Business Operator where a LA has reasonable grounds for believing that they have not complied with the requirements of the legislation. Improvement notices should provide a roadmap to compliance and would be issued as part of the escalation of enforcement in line with the LA’s hierarchy of enforcement. Honey fraud is taken very seriously and will always be fully investigated. For example, allegations in the media that a small number of specific blended honeys sold in the UK were fraudulent have been fully investigated by the relevant LAs and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to indicate fraud or non-compliance. The Government is confident the honey regulations and enforcement of those regulations are fit for purpose.

Agricultural Products: Exports

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they aretaking to improve the level of UK agriculture exports.

Lord Benyon: We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to capitalise on the strong global demand for British food and drink. Our expanded network of agri-food and drink attachés in priority markets are maximising market access, resolving barriers, delivering the benefits of trade deals and supporting industry tap in to export potential. As well as securing major new markets, such as the recently concluded deal enabling export of UK lamb to the USA, we are working with industry and all the nations of the UK to further build export capability through the Export Council, which met for the first time this week.

Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in trialling alternatives tothiamethoxam on sugar beet.

Lord Benyon: British Sugar are progressing with their plan for the development of alternative, sustainable approaches to protect crops from the Yellows Virus Complex (YV), without the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments. This includes the development of resistant plant varieties, measures to improve seed germination and new integrated pest management (IPM) practices for growers.Further details of this work are available on the British Beet Research Organisation’s (BBRO) website, and specific questions on the timeline for deployable alternatives should be directed to industry.

Dogs

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving (1) to licensing professional dog walkers, and (2) to limiting them to a number of dogs that can be walked at any one time.

Lord Benyon: Anyone walking dogs is required to comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which requires individuals in control of animals to protect them from unnecessary suffering, and to provide for their welfare needs. Commercial dog walkers should also comply with any other relevant legislation, local authority and insurance policy requirements.The government currently has no plans to introduce new mandatory licensing for professional dogs walkers or to introduce a new mandatory limit on the number of dogs that a person can walk at any one time. The Canine and Feline Sector Group has published guidance to assist dog walkers. This can be found here: General Guidance Documents – CFSG.

Village Halls: Community Development

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of (1) thecontribution of village halls as community spaces, and (2) the risk of closures of such facilities; and what steps they are taking to support local authorities and community groups to keep village halls open.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they collect data on the number of village halls in England; and if so, what estimate they have made of how many village hallsclosed in(1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022.

Lord Benyon: Defra is committed to supporting village halls and is well aware of their role as important rural community buildings. This support is predominately delivered through our funding of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).Through a network of skilled advisers, ACRE coordinates a nationwide information and advice service for the volunteers who manage halls. Advisers are based in every rural county of England and combine their specialist knowledge of running community buildings with extensive local knowledge. The advisers help with a wide range of queries, from holding AGMs to recruiting volunteers, applying for funding and building relationships with local councils.ACRE does not collect data on the number of village halls but estimates this to be around 10,000 in England. ACRE surveys the halls known to its members every 10 years. The last survey was in 2020 and found that halls were not closing at the same rate as pubs and religious buildings. When a hall closes it is usually because a new one is being built or users have moved to use a new hall in another local village, making the old hall no longer viable.ACRE reported that while there were concerns that some village halls may not re-open after being temporarily closed during the Covid lockdown, ACRE has no evidence that the closure of halls is significant. There was also concern that halls might close over the winter due to rising energy costs, but ACRE has received no reports that this has happened.Village halls across England can now apply for grants to improve and modernise their facilities. Launched to mark the occasion of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund recognises the important role that village halls play in supporting rural communities.The fund is managed by ACRE on behalf of Defra. It is anticipated that the fund will support around 125 village halls over a three-year period creating bigger, better and brighter village halls for communities to enjoy. The Fund opened in December 2022 to applications from projects aiming to deliver a positive impact on the local environment, reduce rural loneliness, support the rural economy and contribute to community life. Capital grants will be allocated to support infrastructure improvements and measures to improve energy efficiency.ACRE also administers the £700,000 Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund on behalf of Defra. The Fund helps community groups with renovation, refurbishment and building projects. The Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund can be used to support a larger number of halls regularly carrying out maintenance, repair and small improvements, whereas a progressively smaller number of halls undertake more costly projects, which the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund is designed to assist.

Nature Conservation

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Benyon on 13 December (HL4004), whether they have data for those regions that have suffered a decline of (1) plants, and (2) mammals.

Lord Benyon: Data held by the Government does not contain sufficient levels of detail to allow for a regional assessment an assessment of species decline.

Biodiversity

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on their ability to halt biodiversity loss arising from the relevant officials being diverted to work on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Lord Benyon: There is no impact. In reviewing retained EU law, Defra’s aim is to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst also ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently.

Nature Conservation

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding by the United Nations Development Programme that $1.8 trillion in global subsidies are contributing towards the destruction of nature; and what steps they are taking to ensure that none of their (1) domestic, and (2) Official Development Assistance, funding is contributing to the destruction of nature.

Lord Benyon: No assessment has been made of the UNDP findings. All Defra’s ODA programmes focus on addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty reduction. We are replacing the approach under the Common Agricultural Policy and transitioning to our new Environmental Land Management Schemes that is paying farmers for delivering environmental improvements that benefit us all, such as improved water quality, protecting and restoring biodiversity, and improving animal health and welfare.

Recycling: Labelling

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the measures requiring mandatory recycling labelling on packaging enable consumers to recycle easily and accurately,and avoid causing confusion as a result of a multiplicity of designs and messaging.

Lord Benyon: The Government set out its proposals for recycling labelling on packaging in the consultation response published in March 2022. We stated that the labelling requirements would comprise a recycling symbol (the Recycle Now ‘swoosh’) and the appropriate wording (Recycle or Do not recycle). This will provide clear information to help consumers recycle easily and avoid confusion caused by the variety of current labelling.

Marine Environment: International Cooperation

Baroness Parminter: To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of (1) land, and (2) sea, they currently classify as protected in regard to the 30by30 target.

Lord Benyon: The UK Government is committed to protecting 30% of land and sea in the UK by 2030 (30by30). We consulted on our approach to 30by30 in the Nature Recovery Green Paper and will respond in due course.

Recycling: Labelling

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken (1) to progress plans to introduce mandatory recycling labelling on packaging, and (2) to ensure businesses are able to implement these reforms effectively and at reasonable costs.

Lord Benyon: We confirmed our intention to require recycling labelling on packaging in March 2022 in the Government’s Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility consultation response. We continue to engage with stakeholders as we develop these requirements, the approach to assessing recyclability and the regulations to introduce mandatory labelling. Labelling will be required by 31 March 2026 for all packaging except plastic films and flexibles which will be required to be labelled by 31 March 2027. This should provide sufficient time for business to adopt labelling as part of typical business cycles and to avoid unnecessary costs. It will also allow time for collection services to develop such that all local authorities collect the same packaging materials for recycling.

Horticulture

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deliver a horticulture strategy for England, with particular reference to access to affordable energy, and the cap on the Seasonal Worker Scheme.

Lord Benyon: We are not developing a specific strategy. We will continue to support the sector to operate, including by establishing the seasonal worker visa route,

Home Office

Migrant Workers

Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Murray of Blidworth on 8 November (HL3116), whether they have since asked theMigration Advisory Committee to pause their review; and if so, (1) when, and (2) for what purpose; and when they expect completion of the review.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Government agreed the MAC should pause the SOL review while we consider the position on the topic of legal migration following the Office for National Statistics’ November publication of net migration estimates and in line with its manifesto commitments to bring overall numbers down. We will be setting out information on the Shortage Occupation List review shortly.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Council Tax: Mental Illness

Lord Pickles: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that severely mentally impaired persons who are entitled to attendance allowance qualify for an exception or a discount on council tax within six months of being diagnosed as severely medically impaired by a medical practitioner.

Lord Pickles: To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who are severely mentally impaired received an exemption or a discount on council tax in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Local authorities are responsible for administering council tax, including exemptions such as those available to someone assessed as being severely mentally impaired. Authorities should satisfy themselves that an individual has both a certificate from a medical practitioner and is entitled to one of a range of listed benefits, including Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance is available to people of State Pension Age who have had care or supervision needs for at least six months. Councils should ensure that any applications for a council tax exemption are dealt with as quickly as possible.Data are collected for England by local authorities and the latest data, for 2022-23, can be (attached) found here.Data are not collected on the number of people who are severely mentally impaired and receive an exemption.Latest data for 2022-23 (xls, 138.5KB)

Treasury

Exports: Ukraine

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to provide (1) payment insurance to British exporters, and (2) war-risk insurance for those British entities making investments into Ukraine, through securitization against seized Russian assets.

Baroness Penn: Further to the answer I gave to the noble Lord in December, the Government is actively supporting UK businesses to help Ukraine rebuild and recover.This includes providing insurance to cover the risk of non-payment and political events that interfere with the completion of contracts. For example, UK Export Finance has made over £3.5 billion available in export guarantees to support priority projects such as infrastructure, energy, and defence.The United Kingdom will also host the 2023 reconstruction conference where the Government will continue work with Ukraine and our international partners to drive the recovery agenda forward.

Capital Investment and Intellectual Property: Tax Allowances

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans theyhave, if any, to offer tax credits on (1) a broader range of intellectual property, and (2) capital spending.

Baroness Penn: The Government already supports investment through a range of tax reliefs.The Patent Box incentivises the commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) in the UK through enabling companies to pay a reduced rate of Corporation Tax, 10 per cent, on profits attributable to patents and other similarly robust IP.Capital allowances let taxpayers write off the cost of certain capital assets against taxable income. The Government is permanently setting the Annual Investment Allowance at its highest ever level of £1 million, instead of letting it revert to £200,000 from 1 April 2023. This amounts to full expensing for an estimated 99 per cent of businesses, which means that businesses can write off the cost of qualifying plant and machinery investment in one go. For expenditure on intangible assets, relief is available through the intangible fixed asset regime. Where expenditure does not qualify as capital expenditure, but qualifies as a business expense, it will generally be expensed in year.Like all areas of the tax system the Government keeps the tax treatment of IP and capital expenditure under review.

Banks and Insurance: Standards

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of weaknessesin the (1) banking, and (2) insurance, sectors.

Baroness Penn: In its December 2022 Financial Stability Report, the Bank of England’s independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) set out its assessment that the UK banking system is resilient to the current economic outlook and has capacity to support lending. Major UK banks’ liquidity and capital positions remain strong. HM Treasury participates in FPC discussions through its non-voting membership of the Committee. The insurance sector was also found to be resilient to the scenarios in the Prudential Regulation Authority’s 2022 Insurance Stress Tests. The Government’s ambition is for the UK to be the world’s most innovative and competitive global financial centre. The Edinburgh Reforms, launched by the Chancellor on 9 December, take forward this ambition.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Lord Kamall: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherHis Majesty’s Treasury has done any economic modelling on the impact of the new alcohol duty bands on the consumption of alcohol; and if so, whether this modelling predicts that they would (1) incentivise alcohol drinkers to drink lower-alcohol drinks, and (2) reduce their overall consumption of alcohol.

Baroness Penn: The UK’s complex and archaic alcohol duty system has been widely criticised by independent commentators including the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), the Institute of Alcohol Studies, and the World Health Organization, with many of them advocating for a strength-based system. We are undertaking the biggest reform of alcohol duties for over 140 years and moving to a system where all alcohol will be taxed by strength. We are also introducing a new lower duty band for products between 1.3% and 3.4% ABV. As under the current duty system, products below 1.2% ABV will not incur alcohol duty. Higher ABV bands will have higher rates of duty, to reflect their greater potential for harm. In October 2020, the Government launched a call for evidence which sought the views of stakeholders on how the system could be reformed. This closed in November 2020 with 106 responses. In parallel to the call for evidence, the Government also undertook a series of roundtables with groups of stakeholders, including public health groups, trade associations and economists. After analysing the responses to the call for evidence, the Government then launched a consultation on alcohol duty reform at Autumn Budget 2021. This consultation closed in January 2022 and received over 350 responses. Responses and evidence are published on the government website. Similarly, the Government considered evidence which suggested that heavier drinkers consumed proportionately higher ABV drinks. For example, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published analysis that suggested that adults drinking 40 units per week consumed drinks at 18% ABV average, whereas those drinking 10 units per week consumed drinks at 14% ABV average. By failing to tax products consistently in line with their ABV, the duty system is not effectively targeted at the most harmful drinking. The new alcohol duty system has been widely welcomed by public health stakeholders on this basis and is in line with WHO’s recommendation to base a duty system on alcoholic strength. Evidence suggests alcohol harm is linked to affordability, and the Government is addressing this through the alcohol duty reform. These reforms have public health at its heart and the new strength-based duty system will incentivise consumption of low alcohol drinks, whilst reducing the consumption of stronger drinks more associated with alcohol harm. The Government has committed to evaluating the policy and its impacts after implementation.

Taxation: Non-payment

Lord Leong: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimatethey have made of the amount of unpaid tax for the last three fiscal years; and what plans they have to recover that money.

Baroness Penn: The details requested by the Noble Lord are published annually in the HMRC Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are in the library and also online at GOV.UK. HMRC also publishes quarterly performance data which includes the debt balance at the end of each quarter. Where customers don’t engage, refuse to pay, or where businesses have little chance of recovery, we have a responsibility to take prompt enforcement action to collect the tax due. It is in no one’s interests to allow unsustainable debt to build up unchecked.